Emma Stewart looking for clean sweep at VicBred Pacers Finals

The question for this weekend’s national harness racing scene is whether ace trainer Emma Stewart can add the VicBred Four year old pacers Finals to her clean sweep of the two and three year old features that she achieved last Saturday night at Melton.

In the four year old entires and geldings Final she has six runners engaged including the highly promising The Last Trip a winner of his last five races. However he’ll face stiff opposition from the vastly improved Fairplay, I Am The Storm and proven performer Fox Dan.

In the mares division Stewart has The Art Of Success, House Party and Let Her Roll engaged but strong performances can be expected by Miss Ari and Wicked Confession.

The four year old trotters entires and geldings Group 1 Final sees the rapidly improving Alrighty take on New South Wales visitor I Am Hellbound and Aldebaran Abel who has plenty of ability when he does things right.

The corresponding mares Group 1 Final sees the proven classics winner Gatesys Gem pitted against I Am Wilma who continues to impress with her recent efforts and this should be a worthy clash.

At Menangle the opening event is the Free For All and we see the eagerly awaited return of Kingman whose trainer Luke McCarthy has mapped an ambitious program for the upcoming Cups Carnival. He’s drawn the well performed Jason Grimson pair of Hi Manameisjeff and Heza Punk Rocker while speedster Ripp has his best draw for ages in two.

The Carousel Pacers Final is always a strong race and this year is no exception with the talented three year olds Nymbal and Palladium who were both impressive in winning their heats last week. Lexus Lou is sure to run a better race if he settles down in the run and not over race.

Any race with Loucasso engaged is bound to stoke interest and the Eureka favourite goes around in the three year old. He’ll be up against Alert Bay who chased him last start while Andretti is sure to be handy early and the lightly raced The Queens Gambit who faces her biggest task to date in a quality field.

The Carousel Trotters Final looks even and former American trotter Zenith Stride won plenty of admirers in his heat win. He’s likely to be prominent in the run as is the very consistent Lotus Louise.

Nothing is likely to stop Attachment from winning his fifth race on end in a small field in the Open pace at Albion Park.

This Saturday night’s Gramel Trotters Cup at Globe Derby sees the State’s most improved trotter the four year old Reoffender take on open class. His recent form has been impeccable and if he steps away from the front row will be hard to beat. The seasoned Ryan Hryhorec pair of Regal Attire and Aldebaran Dexta will both have to concede starts from their back marks of 30 and 20 metres respectively.

Meanwhile at Gloucester Park on Friday night the Daintys Daughter $50,000 classic for three year old fillies is likely to be fought out by Miss Leopatra and Skinny Dippin while A Precious Gem and Manuka Bay are likely to also take a hand in the finish.

Finally in the aftermath of last Saturday night’s nasty accident at Melton we understand that driver Kerryn Manning is off the scene for some time with three fractured vertebrae in her back. Kerryn Manning is a pioneer in the ranks of women drivers as well as being an outstanding ambassador for harness racing in her selfless acts of helping others get on in the sport. Harnesslink wishes Kerry a speedy recovery and trust that we see her soon back at meetings.

 

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink